Postoperative arm-suspension sling



Aug. 12, 1958 FS'DOUMAR POSTOPERATIVE ARM-SUSPENSION SLIG Filed Dec. 10, 1956 United States Patent O POSTOPERATIV E ARM-SUSPENSION SLING Florence Donmar, New York, N. Y.

Application December 10, 1956, Serial No. 627,273

2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-94) This invention relates to arm suspension slings, and more particularly, to slings adapted for use following surgery on the hand or forearm,

An object of this invention is to provide for the suspension of the arm, support of the forearm, and application of ice-bags.

Another object of this invention is to provide an arm suspension sling that is self-adjusting for different limb sizes, that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and use.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sling made in accordance with the present invention, showing the inside construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the outside arrangement thereof;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Figure 2; and l Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sling in operative use.

Referring now to Figures l to 3 of the drawing, an arm-suspension sling made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a one piece main Web section in which the ends are folded toward the inside surface 11 thereof and secured to provide transversely extending hemmed tubular portions 12. The sides are also folded inwardly and secured, such as by stitching, to provide side hems 13. Both ends on each side of the transverse central axis of the main web section are identical and are arranged' to cooperate with each other when folded upwardly into association with each other. Each half of the main web section is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced, trnasversely extending aps 14, 1S, secured at their mid-portions thereto and thus being provided with free ends 14a, b, 15a, b, respectively.

Each end of the outside surface 17 of the main web section is provided with an identical rectangular auxiliary web 16 that is secured along three sides thereto, to

Patented Aug. 12, 1958 2 webs 16 and have free ends 18a, b, 19a, b, that extend outwardly beyond the side edges of the sling.

In actual use, the arm of a patient is placed within the sling so that the elbow extends along the central transverse axis of the sling with the bare or dressed forearm 22 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of each end of the sling as the opposite ends of the sling are folded into association with each other, in the manner shown in Figure 4. The respective ends 14a, b, 15a, b of the opposed flaps are then secured together, such as by safety pins, so as to secure the forearm against displacement within the sling. A separate ice pack 23 is then placed within the patch pockets 16 at each end of the sling and secured therein by tie strings 21. The opposed ends 18a, b, 19a, b, of the securement strips 18, 19, are then tied together to maintain the adjacent side hems 13 in sealing engagement with each other and to securely position the ice packs 23 in each of the patch pockets. Spreader rods 25 are then placed through the tubular portions 12 at each end of the sling and are supported from a tie rope 26 having a centrally disposed snap ring 27. This ring is removably secured to a snap hook 28 that is suspended from one end of a suspension rope 29 that is fastened at its opposite end to an adjustable vertical support 30 that may be associated with the bed on which the patient is supported. It will therefore be recognized that this sling not only affords proper support for the arm, but also provides greater comfort to the patient.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the specific form shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined 4by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. An arm-suspension sling comprising a longitudinal main web section having a transversely extending tubular portion at each end, a transversely extending arm positioning flap secured to the inside surface of said main web section at each side of the central transverse axis thereof and each having a free end yat each extremity thereof, and a sling securement strip secured to the outside surface of said main web section on each side of said central transverse axis and each having a free end at each extremity thereof, said sling being adapted to be folded about said transverse axis into encircling engagement with the forearm of a patient, the opposed free ends of said flaps being adapted to be secured together around the forearm, and the opposed free ends of said securement strips being adapted to be secured adjacent to the opposed side edges of said main section.

2. An arm-suspension sling as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a patch pocket secured to said outside surface at each side of said central transverse axis opening toward the adjacent end of said sling, said patch pockets to hold separate ice bags.

References Cited in the le of this patent 1954 De'Puy Mfg. Co. Catalog, p. 36. (Copy in Division 55.) 

